Great-grandmother, real estate executive, traveler

Helen Jean Buckelew died July 10. Born June 13, 1932, Jean was raised in Oklahoma, where she met her future husband, Clyde Truman Buckelew when she was 15 years old. They married when she was 18 and he had just turned 19. For the next six years she lived with him in Virginia, Florida, and finally Memphis, Tennessee, where their son and daughter were born while he completed his U.S. Navy service.

After helping Clyde complete his studies at the University of Oklahoma, the young family moved to California in 1957. There Jean was able to stay home and raise their children while her husband pursued a long career in the defense industry. She loved oil painting and filled the walls of their home with her lovely work. She also loved to cook, celebrate and attend every special moment in her family’s lives.

Once her children were in high school, she began her career as a realtor, where at Herbert Hawkins she progressed to broker before establishing her own company. She was always among the top sellers in her region, and garnered several highest sales awards. She finally settled into her specialty as a relocation expert with her own company, Jean Buckelew Realty. In addition to helping executives relocate to Southern California from key companies throughout the United States, she also helped her former clients find their next homes. She established friendships within her industry, and with the many clients she helped with their most important purchase.

“Jean and Clyde were always each other’s best friends, and spent many happy years in retirement, dividing their time between their home in Upland and their second home in Santa Barbara,” her family shared. They also loved taking short getaway trips throughout Southern California, in addition to traveling to Europe and cruising the Caribbean.

Married 74 years, they filled their Upland home with wonderful memories of time spent with family and grandchildren, who she loved hosting for special weekends. Her husband cared for her as her health diminished and caregivers were added until her last days, when she had 24-hour care in their home until her passing.

She is survived by her loving husband Clyde Truman Buckelew of Upland; sister, Patricia Jackson of Fresno, California; son Larry Curtis Buckelew and wife Liz Buckelew of Newport Beach California; daughter Deborah Buckelew Fox and Michael Fox of South Pasadena, California; grandchildren Jackson Buckelew, Jarrett Buckelew, Jordan Buckelew, Rebecca Fox and Kathleen Fox; and great-grandchildren Dahlia Buckelew and Bonnie Buckelew.

Private services will be held for the family.